DD's DLA

[Arabica]

DD has been awarded middle rate DLA. Was pleased to get a decision so quickly--it only took a month.
I'd assumed she would only get the lower rate, so that was a surprise too.

Oh, I'm pleased it went well for you. Congratulations.

Well done, make sure you tell the tax credit people as you should get more from them too.

ooh thats good... how old is your DD?

I onlt ask because DS's originally came back really quick - he was homeschooled, (so no school to contact) wasnt medicated, {adhd} so no docs to contact, and only had a 'disability' nurse that did naff all for him and only turned up once a year if i nagged.

So i was wondering if it didnt take long because there was no-one to contact? or maybe i was lucky too?

DS5 (2y) has all sorts of specialists - hes non-verbal, dyspraxic, developement delayed, receives portage, etc... so will his take longer possibly???

love to hear everyones elses waiting times and their thoughts on this theory. maybe we'd all be quicker denying any involvement with 'professionals'????

Congratulations!

Misscutandstick - Ds1's claims were both processed within a couple of weeks (original claim and renewal). Ds2's claim took ages. When I finally got the award letter in the October it had to be backdated all the way back to April. Both boys saw/see a similar number of professionals.

The delay with ds2's claim seems to have been due completely to the DLA's claim-handler cocking it up. When I phoned to check why I hadn't heard anything, the person I spoke to on the phone told me that the claim had barely been touched. Ds2's Paed wasn't even contacted until late August and he was the only person who was contacted.

Congratulations! That sounds really quick.

We are waiting to hear for an application for DS at the moment. Had a very strange phone call from them today -

Them - Hello, where did you get the claim form from?

Me- Er the claims line like I was supposed to

Them - When did you ask for it

Me - Well the date on the form that it says - are you not looking at it?

Them - yes I am I was just checking. (aggressively)Why has it taken you until now to send it back?

Me - Er well it is kind of hard to write about your child in such a negative way and it takes time to complete. And I've had a couple of deaths in the family which has kind of preoccupied me. And I didn't get the form until 3 weeks after I asked for it.

Them - right thank you. Bye bye. (hangs up)

WTF????? I mean what??? Barking!

Congratulations
Inform Tax Credits too

If your dd disibility means you use more water, and you have a water meter you can get upto half price tarriff.

Also I think its British Gas who can lower your tarriff by 10% (electricity and gas)

Well done

we have been waiting 15 weeks, DD1's DLA runs out tomorrow and still no decision

Arabica, well done

have u got a diagnoses yet?

Thanks for all the good wishes and useful information. I didn't know about gas and electricity--I'll enquire and report back.

DD, 22 months, has lots of specialists but no overall diagnosis apart from global developmental delay. Maybe it's just luck of the draw who your claims handler is.

Someone in RL mentioned I could claim carers allowance too? Does anyone get this--is it means-tested?

I've just sent of the forms for careers allowance, sooooo much easier than the dla forms. It is means tested, but only on what YOU earn as an individual, it isn't affected by what your dh/dp earns. Having said that though, it is classed as taxable income and does have to be declared to the tax office and tax credit people. You can claim if you receive middle or high rate care component of dla and you don't have to fill in tons of pages of what you do for your dd either, from what I can work out, they get the details from the dla people. Hope that makes sense!

Arabica: did you get anywhere with the electric/gas thing?

We sent in a renewal claim for DS1 4weeks ago.. and only just got back the the letter that says they've got the claim! OMG wonder how long we are looking at to award/refusal???

No I haven't done it yet!